Composition-light lamp.



J. H. COLEN|AN & W. W. DUNNELL, In.

COMPOSITION -LIGHT LAMP.`

APPLICATION FYILED AuG.13,19|1.

Patented May 2 1, v1918.

JAMES H. COLEMAN .AN D WILLIAM W. DUNN ELL, JR., OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

COMPOSITION-LIGHT LAMP.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known-that we, JAMES H. COLEMAN and WILLIAM WT. DUNNELL, Jr., citizens of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of Ell Paso and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Composition-Light Lamps, of which the following is a specifcationh This invention relates to composition light lamps. Moire particularly, it belongs to the class of headlights for locomotives, automobiles and the like which lights are especially designed for lthe purpose of adequately illuminating the roadway in advance of the moving vehicle, by aA projected beam of light which will vnot strike the eyes of persons ahead as a blinding glare. Ex-

cessively strong headlights, it is now commonly admitted, are always unpleasant, and frequently confusing to any one in the way of an approaching machine, while disastrous consequences have often been attributed to the eHect of automobile headlights throwing streams of intensely brilliant light before them.

The object of this invention comprises means for supporting and adjusting three reflectors, containing electric incandescent lamps or other light-giving burners, and means for holding in the paths of the light, transparent plates, each plate being of one of the complementary colors of white light, whereby red,blue and green rays are brought together at a predetermined point ahead of the vehicle thus throwing a white light upon the part of the road directly illuminated, while the light presented to 'a person looking toward the reflectors is not over'b'rilliant at any point of observation, and, in most positions any one in the roadway will see a light of relatively moderate intensity and more or less tinged with color in appearance.

The stated object is accomplished it is believed most economically and satisfactorily i by using the construction and `arrangement of parts Aset forth in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 represents a side View showing the supporting casing in. vertical section, andA showing two of the threereflectors in place, one of them being illustrated in vertical section. -The adjusting devices are 'also drawn partly 1n se'ction. Fig. 2 shows a -rear View vof the multiple plunger guide, with `the end of the` Application filed August 13, 1917.

Specification of Letters Patent. l Patgnted R'ay 219 191g,

Serial No. 185,985.

plunger-operating screw in section between the. plungers, and showing also the coil 'springs for moving the rearward projections or lamp sockets on the reectors inwardly toward each other upon the withdrawal of the plunger-spreading` screw. Fig. 3 is a front view of the supporting g casing showing the door for closing the casing and the colored plates carried by'th'e door in the paths of the light from the reflectors. In Fig. 3 there are also illustrated the pivotal junctions( of the forward ends of .the reflectors and thefront of the supportan automobile, is provided with the usual lamp bracket a upon which is supported a casing B given ordinarily the shape of a headlight. rlihe front ofthe supporting casing is closed by a door b. rlhe door is pierced by three circular openings C, D, and,

rl, and the openings are glazed with the transparent plates E, e, and F, supqported in the openings. The door b has also an upper and smaller glazed opening f, the glass being plain and without color, in order that the light of the lamp Gr carried by the support g attached to the casing B may be transmitted directly forward. The upper lamp G is relatively a small lamp and gives a light of` medium intensity for use when the automobile is` being driven lthrough the streets of a city, or is standing at rest.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rear portion of the interior of the supporting casing B isspanned by a s ider-of metal which may lbe termed. miiltiple'plunger guide and iis rete'rked to by the letter H. rlthe guide is secured to the casing by screws itl rllhe legs of the guide are 'prjyded with radiating guiding slots J, j', K, withirrwhih Each' limit this invention to any particular shape or size of plunger, or of any other element herein shown and described, as either may obviously be more or less changed vin form.

Within the casing are arranged, usually with their axes at equidistant points, three reflectors N, n, and l?, the lowest being given the letter P in the drawings. As best shown in Fig. 3, the hinges Q, R and r, pivotally connect the front openings or mouths of the reflectors with the forward end of the supporting casing B. That pivotal construetion is to enable the rear portion of each reector as hereinafter explained to be moved out or inwith respect to its axis or to the axis of the supporting casing B, in

order that the light from the reectors may be caused to fall upon the same area ata distance ahead. Each reflector is providedwith a projecting portion at the rear. Thus, the reflector N has the lampy socket-S extending backward from it. In the same manner the reflectors n and P have the projecting lamp sockets s and T. It will be observed in Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 that the rearwardly projecting lamp sockets occupy and project through the radiating guiding slots in the multiple plunger vguide H.

As best set forth in Fig. 2, the inner ends of the three plungers are brought closely together in the guide H, and the tapering endl of .a screw t is inserted betweenthem. The screw t passes to the outside of the casing B through a threaded openingin the rear of the casing. It is believed to be clear that when thescrew t is advanced toward the front of the'casing B, the tapering end of the-screw will force. the three plungers outwardly, and, when the screw is withdrawn the coil springs U, u, and ,V will draw the lamp sockets, that is to say the rear ends of the reflectors, inwardly toward each other.

tions inclined to their axes and to the axis of the supporting casing.

It is not intended to limit the means for -adjusting the reflectors to vthat shown and above-described. 'In the modiication illustrated in Fig. 4,-the supporting casing W isA like the casing B mentioned. The multiple plunger lguide w is similar to the guide.

H, and has like radiating guiding slots X.

The reflector Y in the casing'W has the rearwardly-projecting portion or lamp socket'y extending through theslot X in the guide w.

A screw Z having a universal'joint 1 with the axis of the casing as before explained.

It will be understood, that the parts just described and operating to adjust the reflector Y, are duplicated and applied to each of the By the devices described the vreflectors may be adjusted in various. direcfrom the description and drawings constituting this application for patent. The plates E, c', and F, are colored respectively red, blue and green.v The reflectors being adjusted as desired, the light transmitted through the colored plates will compose a the roadwaywhere all three colors fall'together. .To the eyes of any person in the roadway the composite light is not of such blinding intensity as is the directly projected white light customarily employed. It is understood that' certain authorities give as primary colors those shown by4 a solar 'white light upon the object or portion 'of beam passing through a prism-red, orange,

yellow, green, blue, indigo,and violet, and

reflectors combined in accordance with' this invention could be constructed to project light through. plates embodying all those colors but, for practical purposes, the three plates colored respectively red, green and blue, or violetfblue, are found to be entirely satisfactory. A Having now described this invention', and explained the mode of its operation, what we claim is f l. In a composition light lamp, the combination with a supportingcasing, of a plurality of adjustable reflectors supported upon the casing, means for adjusting the said reflectors in inclined directions with respect to their axes, transparent colored plates comprising the complementary colors of white light, means for supporting the said plates before the said reflectors, and lamps arranged within the said reflectors.

v 2. 'In a composition light lamp, fthe combination withv a support' rality of adjustable re ectors 'SHPPOrted the said reflectors in inclined directions with respect to their axes, lamps arranged within.-

casingguof` a `pluv 4 "110` thin the said casing, means for adjustmg,v

the said reflectors, a' door for closing the front of the said casing, the said door having a plurality of openings arranged in the paths of the light from the said reflectors,

and transparent colored plates, arranged in the said openings of the said door, the said colors ofthe plates comprising the complementary colors of white light. 3. In a composition light lamp, the combination with a support, of three reflectors arranged upon the saidl support, means for adjusting each' reflector. in directionsV inclined to the axis thereof whereby the light from the vthree reflectors-may be directed upon the same spot, lamps arranged within the said reflectors,three colored plateseach'- plate being of one of the complementary col- `1430 for forcing the plungers outwardly whereby the said projecting members are moved from ors of white light, and means for supporting 'flee front edge pivotally conthe said plates in the paths of the light from neet i', j y; `said casing, transparent co1- the said' reflectors. f s Qg'djjpllf/Qs'eahplate being one of the com- 4.' In a composition light lamp,thacolnbi-`` ehtary co "Iof ywhite light, means for aidiplates in the paths of sand reflectors, each reiectrlayingsammlleifprojecting, from the rear thereof, a 'multiplepungegguide arnation' with a supporting casing, of neflecpgppn thegs tors arranged within the casing, each relc-Qtilightx the` torlaving its front edge pivotally connected with the said casing, each reflector having a member projecting from the rear thereof, a multiple plunger guide arranged within the said supporting casing, the said guide having radiating guiding slots for the plungers, the/y said rearwardlyprojecting members on the reflectors passing through the said guiding slots, plungers operating in the saidguiding slots and arranged in contact with the membersprojecting from the reflectors, means the said guide having radiating guiding .slots for the plungers, the said rearwardlyprgjecting members 'on the reflectors passing tliro/glthe .sg/rid guiding slots, plungers operating in thesaid/fislotsand arranged in contact with the said members projecting from they refiectors, means for forcing the plungers outwardly whereby the said pro- `jectingmembers are moved lfrom'ea'ch other, and; springs connecting ythey said projecting members ,wliereby they may be moved toward each other, and 'springs' connecting the said projecting members whereby they'may be Y moved toward each other thereby 'adjusting@directionsinclined'to .their axes. the reflectors in directions inclined/to their/fiy Intestimony/fvvhereof we afix our signaaxes. tures.

5. In a composition light lamp, the' coml, JAMES H. COLEMAN.

bination with a supporting casing/,fl of refleotors arranged within the casing, peach re WILLIAM W. DUNNELL,' JR.

ranged within the said supportingasingf each otherthereby adjusting the reflectors inV 

